Machinery for pressing hay, straw, &amp;c.



' PATENTED 0GT.17,1905. T. J; 0011mm. v

MACHINERY FOR PRE'SSING HAY, STRAW 6w.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fiamap' No. 802,156. PATENTED 0CT.17, 1905.

T. J. GORNING.

MACHINERY FOR PRESSING HAY, STRAW, &0.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.190;. v

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

o O o O 0 O O o UNITE STATES PATENT @FFICE.

THOMAS J. CORNING, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINERY FOR PRESSING HAY, STRAW, G-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1905.

Application filed July 5, 1904. Se N 2l5,' 1:35.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J CoRNINc, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machinery for Pressing Hay, Straw, or other Similar Material, of which the following is a specification,

My invention relates to machinery for compressing hay, straw, or other material preliminary to baling the same.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is the provision of a simple, improved, and highly-efficient machine for compressing hay, straw, or other material.

Certain special objects are to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the compressing means may be combined with suitable motive power--such, for example, as an internal-combustion engineand whereby these instrumentalities may be organized into a unitary or self-contained machine for compressing hay, straw, or other material; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the plunger of the press may be operated by a motor through the medium of an eccentric device; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby a single eccentric device may be employed for actuating the plunger of the press; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby a toggle-like action may be obtained at the end of the forward stroke of the plunger, so as to give a powerful compressing action at the termination of the stroke; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the feeder or device for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper'may be operated from a continuously-rotating shaft; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby both the plunger and the said feeder may in an improved and simplified manner be actuated by a continuonsly-rotat- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a baling-press embodyingv the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the two arms for actuating the tucker. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail on line 3 3 in Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the hopper and the compressing portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the same scale as Fig. 4 and through the same portion of the machine shown in Fig. f. Fig. 6 is a plan of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 4: and on the same scale. lar to Fig. 5, but showing the plunger in its retracted position.

As thus illustrated my improved balingpress comprises a body-frame A, carried by suitable vehicle-wheels B. At the compressing or forward end of the machine a hopper C is provided and arranged to feed the hay, straw, or other material to the compressingchamber D, arranged immediately below. A feeder E is arranged in position to swing down, and thereby thrust or feed the hay or other material into and down the hopper. The plunger within the compressing-chamber and also the said tucker are operated or actuated by a continuously-rotating shaft F, this shaft being driven by an engine G through the medium of any suitable powertransmittingconnection. Thusthe compressing means and also the feeding means are combined with suitable motive power, and the elements thus provided are all mounted upon a Wheeled body-frame, and thus organized into a unitary self-contained balingpress.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which shows the plunger at the end of its forward stroke, it will be seen that the shaft F is provided with an eccentric-cam f and that this cam is provided with a spring-actuated locking-bolt f. A strap f is mounted upon the said cam and connected by a chain f with the rear end of the extension f projecting rearwardly from the back of the plunger d. It will be observed that this extension f is composed of two parallel bars connected at their rear ends by a plate and adapted to lie at opposite sides of the said eccentric-cam. The shaft F is preferably connected with the engine-shaft g through the medium of a sprocket-chain g and through the medium of the speed-down connection composed of a train of spur-gearing g, as illustrated. It will be seen that both the engine-shaft g and the intermediate shaft g are preferably provided with flywheels. Also it will be seen that the strap Fig. 7 is aview simif is provided with an opening f, adapted to engage the end of the locking-bolt f.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that springs d, mounted in horizontally-disposed boxes, are connected by chains d to the back of the plunger. During its reciprocating movement the rear extension of the plunger rests upon and slides upon the shafts F, g and g. The engine causes the shaft F to rotate continuously in one direction-that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow. As soon as the locking-bolt f slides into the opening in' the strap the strap and eccentriccam then necessarily rotate together. This, it will be seen, causes the chain f to wind up upon the eccentric -strap, as shown in Fig. 5. In so doing the cam, strap, and chain cooperate to pull the plunger forward and into the position shownin Fig. 5. In Fig. 7, however, the plunger is shown retracted and in position to be actuated to compress the hay or other material in the compressing-chamber D. The eccentric-cam is released from this strap when the plunger moves forward to an extent to cause the plate f to engage the outer end of the locking-boltf, it being observed that as soon as this occurs the bevel on the end of the locking-bolt causes the bolt to move inwardly and away from the eccentric-strap. Thus at this point in the operation the power is automatically disconnected from the plunger, and the springs cl then exert their tension in a direction to pull the plunger back to the position shown in Fig. 7. In this way the shaft F rotates continuously in one direction to give the plunger its forward stroke, while the springs are employed to retract the plunger. Consequently the plunger has a slow but powerful forward stroke, but a quick return stroke. This obviously makes the machine more rapid and eflicient-in operation, and as a further advantage it will be seen that when the plunger arrives at the position shown in Fig. 5 andjust before-the eccentric-strap is released from the eccentriccam the chain f exerts a downward pull on the rear end of the extension f, thereby crowding or wedging the rear end of suchextension downwardly in front of the shaft F. In other words, at the termination of thefor- Ward stroke of the plunger its extension is pulled downwardly in front of the stationary abutment, thereby producingapowerful toggle-like action at a time when the plunger is just completing its forward stroke. It will be clearly seen that this gives a most powerful action at the end of each forward-stroke of the plunger, and with the motive power mounted upon the body-frameand with the provision of the fly-wheelsand a suitable speed-down gearing the machine is driven in a very powerful but steady and even manner, thus giving powerful but smooth and even action on the part of the compressing means.

arm 6 on the rock-shaft a the rock-shaft e.

again actuate the feeder. of thepivoted lug 0 it will be seen that the arm e 'can swing upwardly or in a reverse d1- sists in providing an incline or bevel whereby should the feeder for any reason whatever fail to rise the plunger may strike such bevel or incline, and thereby lift the feeder out of the way without doing any harm. Like the .plunger the said feeder is actuated by means carried on the-shaft F.

As a matter of further and special improvement the said means whereby the shaft F actu-ates the feeder consists, preferably, of an arm 6 secured to the shaft F, and a somewhat longer arm 6, pivoted to the body-frame at a point adjacent to but not coincident with the shaftF. This is shown more clearly in Fig. 4, and in this figure it will be seen that the pivotal point e of the arm 6 is preferably below and somewhat to the right of the shaft F. The arm a carries a pivoted lug 0., limited in its motion in one direction by a rigid lug or stop 0 Preferably the outer end of the arm a is connected by a spring a with an In other Words, the actuating means thus provided have yielding connection with the feeder, and consequently the feeder may riseand move out of the way of the plunger even should the actuating means fail to rise or operate properly. Also with the provision of the spring the actuating means yieldingly pull the feeder downwardly, and thereby preclude all possibility of breakage in case of any jamming or clogging of the hay or other material in the hopper.

The shaft F rotates continuously in the direction indicated, and consequently the two arms 0 and e will have a certain amount of swinging movement in unison; but at a certain point in their path of travel it is obvious that the arms will become disengaged from each other, owing to the fact that they swing about different pivotal points.

Thus at the proper time the end of the arm 6 slips ofl? from the pivoted luge, thereby allowing the weight e to retract or lift the feeder to its normal position, it being observed that this weight is-carried by an arm rigidly secured to The arm 6 then continues its rotary movement with the shaft F, slowly of course, and then reengages the lug e to With the provision rection without operatively engaging the arm 6. In other words, the arm e -when movlngin one direction must carry the arm 6 with it; but should there be relative movement in an opposite'direction for any reason whatever the arm 6 will remain stationary, inasmuch as the end of the arm 0 simplylifts the pivoted lug a without moving the arm 6 with it. It will be seen, therefore, thatI provide an improved form of feeder and also improved means for actuating it and that the actuating means are of such character as to preclude or greatly reduce the liability of breakage which might otherwise result from various causes.

It will be readily understood that the actuatin g devices and the power-transmitting connections are so constructed and arranged as to cause the different operations necessary to properly feeding and compressing the hay or other material to occur in their proper sequence or order. Furthermore, the highlyimproved construction and arrangement -of the single eccentric device is, it will be seen, sufiicient to actuate the plunger in a powerful and effective manner and in a machine which is compact and of a comparatively short length.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. A balingpress comprising a wheeled body frame, a plunger suitably mounted thereon, an eccentric device for actuating said plunger, a motor also carried by the bodyframe, and a speed-down power-transmitting connection between said motor and said eccentric device, the said eccentric device having a cam rotated only in one direction, about a horizontal axis, by said motor, said balingpress also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said automatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion 'of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates powerfor actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

2. A balingpress comprising a wheeled body-frame, feeding and compressing means suitably mounted on said body-frame, an eccentric device for actuating the compressing means in one direction, spring means for actuating the compressing means in the opposite direction, a motor also carried by the body-frame, and a speed-down power-transmitting connection between said motor and said eccentric device, the said eccentric device having a cam rotated only in one direction, about a horizontal axis, by said motor, said baling-press also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said antomatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the'plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

3. A baling-press comprising a body-frame supported at each end by vehicle-wheels, a hopper and a compressing-chamber arranged at one end of the body-frame, a motor mounted upon the opposite end of the body-frame, a plunger mounted for reciprocating movement in said compressing-chamber, means for actuating said plunger, a speed-down powertransmitting connection between said actuating means and said motor, an automatic device for alternately connecting the plunger with and disconnecting it from the said actuating means, and a spring for retracting the plunger every time\the latter is disconnected from the power, said baling-press also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at theend of its forward stroke, and said automatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means;

4. A balingpress comprising a wheeled body-frame, compressing means mounted on said body-frame, a suitable motor also carried by said body-frame and connected for operating said compressing means, and spring means for retracting the plunger, said balingpress also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said automatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the saidlocking means.

5. A baling-press comprising a plunger, an eccentric cam mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a strap on said eccentric cam, means for automatically locking and unlocking the strap relatively to the eccentric cam, a chain connecting said strap with the plunger, means for rotating said eccentric cam continuously in one direction, so as to give the plunger its forward stroke, and spring means. for giving the plunger a quick backward stroke, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

6. A baling-press com prising a plunger having a rear extension composed of two parallel bars, an eccentric cam mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and positioned between said bars, a strap on said eccentric cam, means for I IS automatically locking and unlocking the strap relatively to the said cam, a chain having its forward end connected to said strap and its rear end connected with the rear end of said extension of the plunger, means for rotating said eccentric cam continuously in one direc tion, so as to effect a relatively slow forward stroke of the plunger, and spring means for effecting a quick backward stroke of the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

7. A baling-press comprising a plunger pro vided with a rear extension, an eccentric cam, a strap on said cam, a chain having one end fastened to the rear end of said extension and its other end secured to said strap, the eccentric device thus provided being so positioned that the entire length of said chain is adapted to exert a pull on said plunger in the direction of the latters forward stroke, means for automatically locking and unlocking said strap relatively to the eccentric cam, means for rotating the eccentric cam continuously in one direction, so as to give the plunger its forward stroke, and spring means for effecting the backward stroke of the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

8. A baling-press comprisinga plunger provided with a rear extension, a stationary abutment, and means for moving the plunger forward and pulling the rear end of said extension downwardly in front of said abutment, whereby a toggle-like action is obtained at the end of the forward stroke of the plunger.

9. A baling-press comprising a reciprocating plunger, a member connected with the back of said plunger, a stationary abutment, and means for moving the plunger forward and pulling said member downwardly in front of said abutment, whereby a toggle-like action is obtained at the end of the forward stroke of the plunger.

10. A baling-press comprising a plunger, suitable motive power, and power-transmitting connections between said motive power and said plunger, said connections comprising cooperating elements,including a rotary shaft, adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the plunger to produce a toggle-like action at the end of the forward stroke of the plunger.

11. A baling-press comprising a plunger, an eccentric cam having a locking-bolt, a strap on said cam, said strap having an opening adapted to engage the said bolt to lock the strap and cam against relative rotation, means carried by the plunger for automatically disengaging the bolt from the eccentric strap at the end of the forward stroke of the plunger, means for rotating said eccentric cam continuously in one direction, about a horizontal axis so as to give the plunger its forward stroke, and spring means for effecting the backward stroke of the plunger upon the disengagement of the said locking-bolt from the strap, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

12. A baling-press comprising a plunger, a rotary eccentric cam, connecting means between the eccentric cam and the plunger, locking means carried by the eccentric cam and adapted to automatically lock said connecting means in condition to rotate with the cam, means carried by the plunger for automatically unlocking said cam from the connecting means at the end of the forward stroke of the plunger, and spring means for retract ing the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

13. A baling-press comprising a plunger and a hopper, a continuously-rotating shaft, an arm carried by said shaft, aswinging arm having an axis adjacent to but non-coincident with said shaft, a swinging feeder for thrusting hay or other material down the hopper, a spring connecting said swinging arm with the feeder, and means on the swinging arm for engaging the arm on said shaft to cause the two arms to swing in unison until the feeder performs its function of thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, and means for restoring the feeder to its normal position upon disengagement of the two arms from each other.

14. A baling-press comprising a plunger and a hopper, means for operating the plunger, a swinging feeder for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, means for operating the plunger, including a continuously-rotating shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a second swinging arm having a pivotal point adjacent to but non-coincident with said shaft, means on the second swinging arm for engaging the arm on the shaft, a spring connecting the said second arm with the feeder, and means for restoring the feeder to its normal position upon disengagement of the two arms from each other.

15. A baling-press comprising a plunger and a hopper, means for operating the plunger, a swinging feeder for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, a swinging arm, and a spring connecting the said arm with the feeder, whereby the latter is yieldingly moved into operative position, said baling-press also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said antomatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

16. A baling-press comprising a plunger and a hopper, means for operating the plunger, a feeder for thrusting thehay or other material down the hopper, a continuously-rotating member, and means including a revolving arm and a vibratory arm for intermittent] y connecting the said feeder with the said member, and whereby said feeder is first actuated and then automatically released and allowed to return to its normal position.

17. A baling-press comprising a suitable plunger and a hopper, a feeder for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, a continuously-rotating shaft, means including a rotary cam and a rotary arm whereby said shaft is intermittently connected with the plunger, and also with the feeder, and whereby said plunger and feeder are each actuated by the shaft and then automatically released and allowed to return to their normal positions.

18. A baling-press comprising a suitable plunger and hopper, a feeder for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, actuating means having a horizontal shaft for operating the plunger and feeder, and a motor having a horizontal shaft connected for continuously operating said actuating means, said baling-press also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said automatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

19. A baling-press comprising a wheeled body frame, compressing means mounted upon said body-frame, actuating means for operating said compressing means, an internalcombustion engine also carried by the bodyframe and suitably connected for continously driving said actuating means, said baling-press also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said automatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

20. A baling-press comprising a wheeled body-frame, a plunger and hopper mounted thereon, a feeder for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, actuating means for operating the said plunger and feeder, and an internal-combustion engine also carried by said body-frame and suitably connected for continuously driving said actuating means, and additional means for retracting the plunger and feeder, said baling-press also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said automatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger, together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

21. A baling-press comprising compressing means and a hopper, a feeder for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, actuating means for operating said feeder, a motor suitably connected for continuously driving said actuating means, and additional means for retracting the plunger and feeder, said baling-press also comprising automatic means for disconnecting the plunger from the power at the end of its forward stroke, and said automatic means including a locking device adapted to be unlocked by means carried by the plunger together with structural means whereby the rear portion of the plunger, during its forward movement, rests upon a rotating shaft which communicates power for actuating the plunger, and which carries the said locking means.

22. A baling-press comprising a hopper and plunger, means for actuating the plunger, and a swinging feeder for thrusting the hay or other material down the hopper, said feeder having a bevel or incline adapted, in case the feeder fails to rise at the proper time, to be engaged by the plunger to push the feeder upward, together with power-transmitting connections for actuating said feeder.

23. A baling-press comprising a suitable hopper and'plunger, means for actuating the plunger, and a swinging feeder having its end portion provided with a member held in position by inclined bracerods, said rods, in effect, providing a bevel or incline against which the plunger may impinge in case the feeder fails to rise at the proper time, together with powertransmitting connections for actuating said feeder.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 23d day of June, 1904:.

THOMAS J. CORNING.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE M. THORNE, E. A. GARDINER. 

